We love (if not admire) Autoblog's puppy dog enthusiasm for all things car. So the fact that they're on any side of a fight– any fight– is shocking. Yesterday we reported that Chicago Auto Show Internet Director Mark Bilek used his company's blog (Showlopnik) to piss on blogs in general and mild-mannered Autoblog in specific. Autoblog kept stum about the e-contretemps, covering the show with their usual New York Timesian panache. But it seems like they can't do nothin' right. Here's, in its full sarcastic splendor, is another broadside from the Chicago Auto Show folk. This time it hails from Paul Brian, the Show's Director of Communications. 

Dear AutoBlog. Amazingly, you don't seem to get it. You seem to think that auto shows are about the number of intros. Oddly enough, manufacturers, the ones who pay the bills to produce auto show, have a rather different perspective. They seem to think that auto shows are designed to make the connection between their marketing people and the public who have cash (and loans) to purchase those products. Gee, what a novel idea! Unfettered, unbeholden customers who are not on some company "X-Y-Z-A Plan" pricing for employees and suppliers. Real people. People who like big displays and the ability to view the industry in one place on one floor with the show industry's undisputed best place in which to display. You'll learn about it more when you move out of your mom's house. So, as self-absorbed as you might be, you might want to get cozy with the notion that it's really not all about you."

Hyundai's Sonata might be the ultimate in passion-free motoring (it's also available in 100 calorie packs), but it's a direct hit on an American market that shops on specs first, character second. Sales slipped just a tad in 2007 to 145,568 Sonatas, indicating it's a good time for the company to roll out a refresh. Exterior changes are subtle; you'd do better to spot differences between pop singer Fergie's face and a pumpkin. The beauty here is on the inside (same with Fergie, we're sure). First, Hyundai's finally fit a proper interior to the Sonata. The 2004 – 2007 model's cabin was decent and ergonomically acceptable, but buyers wanted a little more style– especially at the higher trim levels. So the new Sonata has a mostly new interior, including a slick looking center stack that's more than a little reminiscent of the Lexus RX. The Sonata also gets optional navigation, which means Hyundai can finally join competitors in scamming customers out of $1500 they could save by buying a TomTom-type device. Second, Hyundai shakes up the powertrains. The four-cylinder engine is now up to 175 horses (from 162) and gains a cog (five-speed auto). The legato V6 is also up to 249 horses from 234. These power bumps also bring slight mileage improvements: 22/32 for the four-pot and 19/29 for the big boy V6. Despite stagnant sales numbers and fleet dependence issues, the Sonata has been a giant leap for vanillacarkind. These refinements should help keep the numbers healthy until the next full redesign. 

I was thinking about Justin's bang-for-the-buck blog and Frank's By The Numbers report. It occurred to me that the autoblogosphere is ruled by numbers. Horsepower, sales per month, number of comments, unique visitors per day, and so on. Which is kind of funny, as I have less aptitude for math than a Himalayan yak. My love for cars is visceral, not digital. When Justin investigates the $/hp equation, my mind turns to thoughts of coffee and bookmarks that dare not speak their name. But when he mentions the Mustang GT, I can immediately hear the roar of that V8. I can feel the gear knob vibrating in my hand. I can remember my sense of disappointment, as the engine ran out of puff ("Oh C'MON. We were just getting STARTED"). When Frank mentions the Dodge Durango, I recall the horrendous smell of the car's plastics assaulting my nostrils. I can hear and feel the glove box lid lock struggling to catch, dammit. And then I saw Autoblog's diss of in.pro's "make your econobox sound like a supercar" Virtual-Motor. "Worst. Accessory. Ever." made fun of the aftermarket inventor's attempt to relieve cash-strapped pistonheads of tinny engine audio Hell, or maybe experience a brief if cod moment of automotive aural sex. It made me shake my head. Numbers are the map. But they are not the territory. 

Canada.com reports that Transport Canada has concluded a pilot study of a GPS-based speed governing system that may intervene to cut throttle inputs in speeding cars based on their location. T-Can researcher Paul Boase breaks it down: "The technology has the ability of just saying, OK the posted speed limit is 50, so we'll let you go 55, that's it". Though the vehicle could be fitted to any new vehicle, Boase suggests its primary application should be for repetitive speeders who need a little "help" maintaining a safe cruising speed. So… what about those rare moments when breaking the law is actually the safer thing to do? What if an emergency vehicle comes up behind you? What if you need to speed to duck out of the way of someone who has crossed over the median? What if you're driving a woman in labor to the hospital? A manual override makes the device useless, but no override makes its dangerous. Nevertheless, the idea grabbed the attention of the Alberta's transportation ministry, which is highly interested in the research.

When it comes to engaging in non-essential secondary activities whilst behind the wheel, I think it's fair to say both sexes are equally guilty. Women do their make-up, men pick their noses and scratch themselves, and life goes on. However, hair is one area where women out-do men for dangerous distractions. Yep, The Vancouver Province c/o Canada.com reports any haircut, including Kate Moss' famous bang-fest (get your mind out of the gutter) may reduce peripheral vision and interfere with driving. Citing a UK study, the Province lays down some scary numbers: 190k women in the UK have copped to a near-miss due entirely to hairstyle malfunctions. Additionally, 67 percent of survey respondents currently wear a hairstyle that may let hair fall over their eyes. But here's the kicker: "57 per cent of women confess to taking their hands off the wheel to rearrange their hair or push it off their face, leaving them temporarily out of control of their car." I don't know about you, but next time I see that blonde in a Lexus RX primping at 85 mph, I'm getting the fuck out of her way (and hopefully not crashing into Mr. Bigshot, busily blackberrying away while delegating the task of handling the road entirely to his BMW 5-series). 

Judging by list prices, ignoring the presence or absence of any other options and any thoughts of political correctness, which U.S.-spec vehicle offers the most horsepower per dollar? I always assumed it was the 300 horsepower Ford Mustang GT, which clocks in at about $26k. Nope. Its $/hp ratio is $86 per pony. It's a good buy, but not the bang-for-the-buck champ. Remember: lowest $/hp wins.

Pontiac G8 – 360 horses – $83/hp
Dodge Magnum SRT8 – 425 horses – $89/hp
Dodge Caliber SRT4 – 280 horses – $82/hp
Chevy HHR SS – 260 horses – $88/hp
Shelby GT500 – 500 hp – $86/hp

But it's when you get into the trucks that the money-power ratio comes into focus.

Nissan Titan – 317 horses – $82/hp
Toyota Tundra – 381 horses – $81/hp

Yup, the true power mongers however are pickup trucks. The Mopar option is the Dodge Ram 1500, which brings you a 340 horsepower Hemi for only $25k– a fantastic ratio of $73/hp. But the crown goes to… the Ford F250 Super Duty, equipped with a 362-horse 6.8-liter V10. Listing at $24,175, that's a $67/hp combo. Screw the Dodge Challenger ($89/hp) rebirth. The muscle car champ is still a Ford truck.

“Technology, alone, cannot solve this question of how to reduce emissions from cars. Reducing CO2 emissions from cars should be a shared responsibility.” And there you have it: Wolfgang Hennig's rationale for urging the European Union (EU) to spend more of its members' tax dollars to teach drivers how to emit less C02 (via their car, not personally). Wards Auto reports that Ford of Europe's "eco-driving manager" isn't alone in this "why don't you pick on someone else for a change" strategy. "The European Automobile Manufacturers Assn. says eco-driving training can lead to an immediate reduction in fuel consumption of up to 25%." So.. we're talking about government intervention in how you drive your car? Uh-huh. "The EU is leaving it up to the individual governments to run their own voluntary schemes, which if successful could lead to the EC including rules and standards on eco-driving in future legislation." But… how? "Isuzu Motors Ltd. has a new range of commercial vehicles equipped with an onboard computer system that records the use of the accelerator, gearshift, brake and clutch. Data is downloaded into a laptop, showing each driver how they perform on the road and acting as the basis for tailored eco-driving lessons." There's more, but it freaks me out. 

BusinessWeek reports that Ford will offer a high tech “Work Solutions” package for its forthcoming F-150 pickups and commercial vans. Deep breath. The package includes a Bluetooth-enabled 6.5” in-dash touch-screen computer running Microsoft’s Windows CE and Windows Autos connected to the ‘net via Sprint cellular. Owners can radio-tag their tools using a “Tool Link” function. When the truck starts up, a pair of antennas scan the owner’s brain waves for thoughts of theft– I mean scan the vehicle looking for tools missing from a preprogrammed inventory list. "Think of Tool Link as no tool left behind," jests Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas and a living, breathing example of the theory. The “Work Solutions” package also includes fleet tracking and a lockable storage system for pickup beds. The electronic features will be available together or separately.

Based on his first two posts, it was clear that the Chicago Auto Show's Internet Director, Mark Bilek was spoiling for a fight with someone. Anyone. As long as it was a blogger. Not surprisingly, he got his wish. Autoblog (AB) asked its readers to watch the 24-hour webcams covering the autoshow's construction for a new car before its official debut. Bilek went ballistic. Rather than just pull the plug on the cameras quietly, Bilek excoriated AB via the Chicago Auto Show Blog (Showlopnik). "Now for an episode of 'When blogging goes bad.' All Chicago Auto Show Web cam fans can thank AutoBlog.com… Thanks to your friends at AutoBlog, the Web cams are disabled. It is one thing to leave the cams up for the general public, but it's another when they are used for a Web site's personal promotion. Yea, I got a screen cap for you AutoBlog, it's a big middle-finger salute from all of the Web cam fans of the Chicago Auto Show thanking you for keeping them in the dark." This is the same guy who previously knocked blogs as being spiteful, overly opinionated and unprofessional. Mote. Beam. Eye. Done.

The execs for the Chicago Auto Show managed to hire possibly the worst person imaginable for the job of "Internet Director." Not only does Mark Bilek hate blogs and bloggers, but he can't even keep his mouth shut (or keyboard inactive) about it. On the Chicago Auto Show's blog Showlopnik, Bilek ponders blogging credentials: "It appears that you have to a) be very young and inexperienced, b) have an opinion about everything, and c) always be 100% right, even if you don't offer solutions."  Regarding news embargos, "Ha! I laugh at embargos. I am a blogger now and I don't have a code of ethics–or scruples for that matter. I don't care if I made a binding agreement not to make public sensitive information? As long as someone else broke their promise first, it's OK for me, right? So here goes. I overheard the head chef at McCormick Place in an airport jet way discussing the menu for First Look for Charity and, guess what? There will be shrimp I tell you. Also, we'll have food from India, Asia, Europe, South America, and even North America. In addition, there will be beer, wine, and soda! Imagine that! Just remember, you heard it here first. PS, that makes me important, right?" Mark Bilek. Our friend in the digital age.

When I was at Car and Driver and for a long time thereafter, the label 'Preview' was applied solely to quasi-road tests that involved driving a preproduction car, driving a car that we weren't allowed to instrument and test, sneaking into a mule, or some other actual experience in an existing vehicle. (The "You can drive it but you can't instrument it" situation was probably the most common one. The last Preview I ever wrote described the original Maybach; I put 400 miles on the beast.) And now, only a few paragraphs into C/D's current cover story on the new Cadillac CTS-V ("Cadillac's 550-hp M5 Beater") we learn that the buff book's "months away from a first drive" of the supposed Bimmer beater. It's a blatant admission that the piece is a rewritten press release. The CTS-V, they say, "should be worth the price of admission." How on earth does Tony Swan know that? And then there's Steve Smith's column on Carroll Shelby's legal hysteria. Who owns a computer, even a TRS-80, and didn't already know all that shit two months ago? I'm stunned by how far C/D has sunk.

Yet another example of what is wrong in Detroit has been released by Ford: the Euro-only Ford Focus hardtop convertible. Yes, that apple of American pistonhead desires, the European Focus, has yet another svelte form. With excellent interior quality, clean lines and crisp handling, this Pininfarina-built coupe looks to be yet another gem for Ford Europe. Sadly, we’re left out in the cold on this side of the pond; there's no market for a great compact car/coupe/convertible in America– or so Ford says. Or if there is, they can't build it here (as in Mexico) and sell it at a profit. Still, you can console yourself that you can get your cretaceous-era American Ford Focus with Sync. But even that may not make you as happy as the Mazda3 driving next to you. That Verve better be good…

GM has released pictures of the new Chevrolet Outlook Traverse, set to start production this fall. In a press release, Chevy GM Ed Peper dismissed charges that Chevy's take on the Lambda platform should have been the first out of the box, rather than the last. (Never mind the only.) "We think the Traverse is the right vehicle at the right time." The new-ish CUV features styling cues "inspired by the acclaimed '08 Chevy Malibu." It comes in three trim levels (cheap, not so cheap and livable) and FWD or AWD variations. Chevy's offering a full complement of "amenities" to "enhance the driving experience for the driver and passengers alike" (how passengers could have an enhanced "driving experience" is a question left unanswered). The important thing is this: "the Traverse is following the formula that is bringing Chevy back to a new generation of consumers – great styling, loads of class-leading features and tremendous value." That's one way to describe a badge-engineered Chevy that will cannibalize sales from GM's other divisions. If the Saturn Outlook was doomed before, it's doomederer now. And the final indignity? The Traverse will hail from Saturn's Spring Hill factory, where the "different kind of car company was born."  

Back in the 90's, VW tried to compete against Chrysler’s minivans. Compared to Chrysler's mommy-mobiles, the Eurovan was too big, too expensive and too slow. In 2003, VW gave up. Five years later, VW reckons if you can't fight 'em, join 'em. The "Route-Ann" (at least officially) is little more than a reskin of Chrysler’s latest minivan. VW buyers get the same lackluster and inefficient Chrysler engines (4.0-liter and 3.8-liter V6s), same mechanically suspect Chrysler transmissions and same not-so-fantastic Plastech plastic. The Routan's interior seems to feature a Passatish theme blended with Chrysler build quality (frightening isn’t it?). The VW folks didn’t even spring for a new tiller or ICE. The lowlights don’t stop there. For the time being, Routan intenders are denied access to Chrysler's fancy seat options and back seat satellite TV. How in the world VW could sell this cynical rebadge instead of their universally praised Microbus concept shown seven years ago at the Detroit Auto Show is a mystery as deep as the decision to keep the ill-fated Phaeton on life support. VW: Lost.

Even before 2008 arrived, industry experts were predicting a bad, bad thing. So far, they haven't been disappointed. While January tends to be a low sales month, as everyone tries to recover from holiday overindulgence, this January was worse than expected. There were a few inexplicable bright spots (*cough* channel stuffing *cough* dealer fleet sales *cough*). Sales of the Dodge Caliber (up 25.5 percent over last January), Ford Focus (up 44.4 percent), Buick LaCrosse (up 69.3 percent) and Chevy Cobalt (up 32.9 percent) all shot up. But these four-wheeled anomalies weren't enough to salvage the month. Let's break it down…